Analysis

Yea for analysis. Nay for over-analysis.

I talked to a senior the other day about the book we were about to read called Maus. She took 11 AP last year, and I wanted some of her input to get a feel for how the book is. She replied along the lines of “The book was fun and interesting, but the analysis was too much.” I was immediately shocked by her answer. How can it be possible to analyze a comic book to the point that it was almost too much? Is it even possible to over-analyze something?

The next day, I came to class with all the assigned chapters read. I found the book entertaining and easy to get through. It didn’t seem like much. However, I soon found out almost everything had a purpose for why something was this way or that. It opened my eyes to a new world of Analysis and I was determined to find the meaning behind everything that had one.

After class, my friend and I talked about how analysis can ruin a lot of things. I’m not saying we ruined Maus through analysis. I’m really not. But sometimes it’s nice to think that you’re just reading about some mice going through some tough times. It’s just funny when the mouse screams, “Th-there are rats down here!” and it just happens to be that the page number isn’t present on that page. So many people are so determined in trying to find the meaning to all the little parts, often times forgetting to just take a step back and look at the big picture. That doesn’t mean I’m saying we should read everything by its surface. Analysis is extremely important to get a better understanding of the text.

Some books, no matter how hard you try to analyze them, are impossible to figure out. I think in some ways, that’s the beauty of it. All kinds of people have different interpretations of a single text, and it’s great how we can all look at in different points of view. It's not always important to understand everything the way the author intended. Overall, analysis is a great way to take in a deeper meaning of text. But being so caught up in such minuscule things may often just distract from the obvious.

Dreams

Yea for our imagination. Nay for those unrealities.

Upon reading about Maxine Hong Kingston’s dreams in “The Woman Warrior,” I started wonder how many of peoples’ dreams actually do come true. I don’t think there is lot, even though that may come across as a bit depressing. Is imagination just a separate thing from reality? I like to think that everyone wants to change the world in some way, similar to Kingsley. I would also want to become a woman warrior hero, but the reality of my situation doesn’t allow me to. Kingsley describes her dream with passion, and I believe that reflects one’s actions. Dreams always reflect actions. I want to dream big, but many times, I’m faced by the negativity and challenges that come with those dreams. Those that dream big are brave and inspirational. Those that make those dreams come true are truly amazing. The power I have feels so small to change the world, although I can name several people that have off the top of my head right now that have changed the world in such a way. It doesn’t feel like false hope.

Many are scared of change. It’s crazy to think that some people have never left their country, living in the same city their great-great-grandparents have lived in. Talking to the same people. Going to the same places. People are afraid to take risks. Their imagination is so limited, just like their experiences. We should break from our comfortable bubble and dream big. We can all change the world.

I don’t know if I will be the brave, inspirational, truly amazing person that I aspire to be. That won’t stop me from trying to. So far, just like Kingsley, “[m]y American life has been such a disappointment.” I think I’ll work to change that soon.

Education

Yea for education. Nay for misrepresentation.

Several ways to teach exist, and the components that make a good teacher differ for every person. Although we might not be aware of it, a form of lying, no matter how small, may exist in any classroom. Our classroom came to the conclusion that lying is a matter of degree and intention. As shown in “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins, the history teacher’s intentions are not portrayed as bad, but the degree to which he lies, as the whole class agrees, is too far from the truth.

Yea for truth. Nay for versions of truth.

I came to wonder when this “degree” of lying comes to be too much. Many people have different ways to interpret the truth. They may consider the things they teach the absolute and only truth. It can be well argued that a teacher should not give a strong opinions about controversial issues, but let the student form an opinion. I also considered the effect of intention in a classroom. I questioned the intention teachers have when teaching. To care for students is seen as a good intention, and to have a goal to sabotage students’ grades is seen as a bad intention. However, the real reason why teachers become teachers comes down to the fact that it earns them money. Some teachers are seen as better than others, and it makes me wonder what the intention of those teachers are. Is it the drive for money, the true care for students, or a blend of both? I would expect that it would be the latter. If one teacher has better intentions than the other when lying, does it make that teacher more qualified to lie? I feel that both would still be equally lying. One can never truly know another’s intention, and that shouldn’t determine how one can act poorly depending on it.

July Fourth

Yea for July Fourth. Nay for July Fourth.

Same day, but different ways. Happiness, freedom, criticism, anger. And as Douglass said, “your fourth of July is a sham.” Whites believe freedom, blacks believe hypocrisy. Why does slavery exist? Why do abolitionists need persuasive arguments just to prove that slavery is not moral? “The Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” There is a clear line between the emotions a white man and a black man feels. While the white man celebrates his freedom, the black man must mourn for his lack of freedom. “Sacrilegious irony.”

Yea for improvement. Nay for mediocrity.

Slavery is now abolished. Are blacks now free? Are we equal? Are people free from prejudice? Improvement has occurred, but society still discriminates. “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me.” Some are seen to be freer than others. The fight for freedom and equality rages on. African Americans are being shot for their race. Hate groups exist. Should non-whites even celebrate July Fourth?

I hope there is a future with equality and happiness. I hope we can look back at the past and say, “That’s not us anymore.” The Fourth of July may permanently be a day of pain or indifference for many. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, and that's fine. I just hope that soon, everyone can celebrate the liberation of all races.